Court Street bike lane causes Carroll Gardens community backlash
The Department of Transportation maintains that the recent Court Street bike lane redesign follows the best safety practices. But not all cyclists are convinced.
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For some neighbors, crossing or driving along Court Street has become a stressful challenge that feels a lot like the classic video game Frogger.
“Now you have to remember to not only look for cars but to look for bikes. Someone biking past yells, ‘Look both ways!’ It’s awful,” said Brooklyn resident Andrea.
The Department of Transportation maintains that the recent Court Street bike lane redesign follows the best safety practices. But not all cyclists are convinced.
“All of the bike lanes that are set up on the side of cars are very dangerous. It’s so skinny that it’s an actual death trap,” said Jules Beckman, a local cyclist.
Some former supporters of the bike lane redesign say turning onto Court Street from side streets has become especially risky.
“The left turns are deadly now. When you’re driving, you have to come out around and you can’t turn enough to see the cyclist coming. I don’t want to end up killing the cyclist,” said Shelly Mossey, of Rolling Orange Bike Shop.
The Court Street Merchants Association challenged the DOT over the bike lane last month. Their lawyer, Hartley Bernstein, says a decision on a redesign is expected by the end of the month.
While officials consider that final decision, the DOT says measures like boulders and bike corrals have been installed to improve visibility and prevent cars from entering the bike lane.
